'"It was extremely productive, and an extremely efficient game," Biron said. "We skated, we got pucks to the net and I think in the second period, we took our speed to another level that really created a lot of room on the ice. I think we've been really consistent for six or seven games now, and that's the way we wanted to play for the whole season."'

'Coach Lindy Ruff said Kotalik could miss Buffalo's upcoming two-game road trip, which starts Saturday in Carolina. Kotalik is second among rookies with 19 goals and is third on the team with 32 points. Meanwhile, Adam Mair, Jay McKee and Taylor Pyatt are expected to play Friday night against Montreal.'

'Kotalik is second among NHL rookies with his 19 tallies. He's third overall on the Sabres. But the red goal light hasn't sparkled for him since March 15 in Atlanta, a five-game skid that's weighing on the 24-year-old more than he wished.'

'"All of a sudden you hear rumours about drunkenness, affairs, just rumours that really attacked my integrity more than anything. People can say I can't coach, that's their prerogative. But when they start talking about things that they don't know, that's hard. I bet you 99 per cent of the people who said all those things don't really know who I am."'

'"We take every game by itself," said Sabres left wing Jochen Hecht, "and it's a great feeling when you come in the dressing room after you won the game. Whether it's at the beginning of the year or the end of the year, it doesn't matter. You want to have that feeling of winning."'

'Smith, the architect of the Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup champions, is eager to prove he can run a rebuilding, small-budget team. He would be an ideal choice. But other teams (San Jose, for one) might be interested in Smith, too.'

'Golisano's pledge is viewed by city officials as an important step in gaining their approval, an essential piece to his purchase of the Sabres. The money reflects the annual ground rent the city is entitled to under the operating agreement for HSBC Arena. By agreeing to pay the rent, Golisano has done what previous bidder Mark Hamister failed to do and, in the process, paved the way for City Hall to approve his deal.'

Daniel Briere scored the go-ahead goal in the final minute of the second period as the Buffalo Sabres edged the Florida Panthers, 2-1, to register their first three-game home winning streak in nearly two years.